Leonard Sancilio, Sr.

Leonard Sancilio, Sr. passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer on Tuesday morning, October 24, 2023. Lenny was born on March 7, 1936 in Port Said, Egypt to Gaetano and Anna Sancilio. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Phil. Lenny is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marie, sons, Leonard, Jr. (Sharon), Gary (Christine), and Stephen (Annie); grandchildren, Danielle (Jordan), Matthew, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Nicole, and Natalie; great granddaughter Eloise; and nieces and nephews throughout the country.

Lenny came to the US with his mother and brother, landing in Baltimore in 1946, then living in Corona, Queens. A graduate of Newtown High School, Class of 1953, he initially worked as a mold-maker, then he and his brother, along with their friends, established the Sanzio Tool and Die company in 1962 for work as a machinist.

Primarily living in Flushing throughout his life, Lenny summered on Long Island, snow-birded to Florida post-retirement, eventually moving to Riverhead, NY.

An avid athlete, Lenny skied most major areas in Europe and the western US, along with most ski areas in NY and Vermont as a long-time member of the Edelweiss Ski Club. He loved road and mountain biking, clamming, crabbing, making wine and sopressata with family and friends, and most recently developed and shared a passion for pickleball in both Florida and his Saddle Lakes home community. He loved music, especially Sinatra, and to sing and dance. But most of all he loved his wife and family above all else. As he wrote in his high school class memories, “Life is good…very very good.”

Mass of Christian Burial Friday, October 27, 9:30 AM at St. John the Evangelist R. C. Church, 546 St Johns Pl, Riverhead, NY 11901. Private, family only viewing, prior to the church. Interment Friday, October 27, 12:00 noon at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, 172-00 Booth Memorial Ave, Flushing, NY 11365. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kanas Center for Hospice Care, 1 Meeting House Road, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978. (https://www.eeh.org Preferred designation: Kanas Center for Hospice Care).